空大小熊

更新2011.12.21
 
初讀實用英文時我也有面臨除去舊學習法使用新方法的困惱，
 
最後，我選擇新的學習英文方法_空大的四步驟，當然有跟紀靜芬問過...簡單的對答，也許是因為她語氣堅定當著我面說:我專教別人教不來放棄的學生，年齡決不是問題。
 
進一步得到了回答是..根本是用錯方法學習英文、怪錯對象，於是就決定照著她的方式重零開始，剛開始一課花了我二天到三天的時間，還是問題多多，但堅持下去問題都能迎刃而解，而她確實從最基本的五大句型教起，親自出馬不假他人之手，全面支援我需要知道的最基本的常識，以及透過學校能用的設備全被她用上了，包括空大橋、討論區、面授，她下足功夫在英文教學上毫不鬆懈，當然也是有問必答不藏私。
 
當時她也專文撰寫過小熊的學習毅力期許後進者，在課堂上也偶而聽到她回答同學說:那為什麼他做得來而你做不來呢?
 
一位女同學回答，誤以為是跟著她面授課上課，被她立即糾正說，不是!是學他的毅力。
 
 
A1:關於空大英文文選的課文電視教學節目帶
 
請逕洽空大出版社詢問
 
A2:我覺得要跳脫循序漸進的課程設計必須經過陳博士專業檢定程序來判斷和討論，以非Wen Xiong 能力所及，
 
我只能就當初教我的面授指導者也是本課程的編撰者之一，Mrs.Chi的個人傳授教學經歷提供你初入空中大學的參考，我是有個好榜樣Mrs.Chi讓我來學習模仿和傳授指導相關英文閱讀方式ㄟ。
 
我沒有受過相關教學專業背景訓練，因此沒有更詳細的學習指導。
 
建議您去請益陳博士指導較為適當，下列是聯絡方式
 
當初我也是經過和他討論過我的的空大後期英文學習發展方向指導，現在才有能力看和從他那裏得知閱讀NyTimes/NPR...等英文網站，也曾和他在討論區問答過英文相關問題。因此，試試看和博士聯絡(全年無休)。
 
專長英語教育/陳達武博士官網:英文討論區
 
http://info.nou.edu.tw/thdeng/threads.cfm
 
祝~學習愉快 

Chapter 4
 
更新2012.02.24在文末的分段更正

更新2011.12.23 

A Lesson on Privacy

The first cultural shock (I had in America) is about privacy. I learned my lesson the hard way. It was my second year /of studying /in America. [The days were hard] and [we didn’t have many opportunities /to make American friends].

 
One day /an American couple-Steve and Ann- took (a friend) and (me) out /for a dinner). During the course /of the meal //we talked about lives naturally.
 
Steve and Ann cared about //[how we were doing /in America], [how our studying was going…etc].
 
To students /like us studying /in a foreign country, this kind of friendship meant a lot. In return /we asked them /about (their work), (their interests), and (their family), of course.
 
They told us [that they were doing very well] and [that their daughter -Julia-was about to get married].
 
Naturally /to show my deep gratitude /to their friendship,// I wanted /to show more.

 
I wanted /to make them really feel my amazement.????
 
I said to Ann:” Gee! It’s amazing [that your daughter is about to get married]. And yet, you still look so young.”
 
Ann replied, without any sign of annoyance:’ She is not mine.” She did not lose her smile /while saying. But I did.

 
This is an emergency ! I had not expected this. My immediate reaction was /to try /to turn this bad situation around.
 
I turned to Steve and said :” Still, it is amazing /for a father (who has a daughter about to get married). You look rather young.
 
Maybe you will become a grandfather /in a year or two. Isn’t that amazing?
 
You might be the youngest grandfather in the country.
 
Steve said: “ She is not mine, either.”
 
 I felt like (I had just eaten a live frog).

My head went blank. “ What went wrong?”
 
Sensing my embarrassment, Ann came to my rescue: “ Don’t feel bad. This is a little complicated.
 
You see, she is not really our daughter. She is the daughter /of Steve’s first wife (who had Julia /in her previous marriage).
 
Steve loves Julia /so much [that when he and his first wife were separated, Julia stayed with him].

And then [I married Steve] and [we all lived together //until she graduated /from high school].
 
We simply take her /as our daughter. Steve really takes good care of her.
 
He paid for her education and even is still paying the rent /for her apartment. And we are going to give her away /in the wedding.
 
She went /on explaining [that it is very natural for them]: “ Since Steve loves Julia and I love Steve, so we all love her.
 
We talk to her /on the phone /at least once or twice every day, and she comes to our house twice or three times a week. We are just a happy family.”

 
I was speechless.
 
You can imagine //how this incident has changed my idea of privacy.

What’s privacy? Nobody would deny //that privacy is very important.
 
Yet //when it comes the time /to demonstrate our respect l/of other person’s privacy,// we often do the opposite.
 
Too often we intrude on people’s privacy /by either (asking /too many questions /about people’s personal lives) or (assuming) //that almost everyone lives “ normal” lifestyle.
 
I made mistakes /on both counts.
 
Sometimes we fail to realize [that we are intruding other person’s privacy].
 
Because we think [that there is something (we need to know)].
 
It seems [that our need /to know something overrides all concerns /about privacy].
 
Consequently, we think [it is all right to do so].
 
We simply assume [that it doesn’t matter].
 
But more often than not, it does matter.
 
Questions /about personal lives /almost always make people involved uncomfortable.
 
If they keep it to themselves, we would think [it doesn’t matter and keep doing so].

 
But when they (feel very bad about it) and (make their displeasure known),// we may very well feel embarrassed.

Steve and Ann were very gracious. They handled my mistakes well and saved me /from further embarrassment.
 
What is even more remarkable is [that they even invited us to their home for the Thanksgiving dinner /about one month later].
 
Julia and her husband-to-be were there, too.
 
Had I not known their story //I would have believed [that she is really their daughter].
 
Steve and Ann acted /just like caring parents.
 
Steve and Ann invited us /to witness [that theirs is a truly happy family].

Several months later we attended the wedding. We could see [that Steve and Ann did their best /to make this a memorable ceremony].

 
In the church, Steve gave Julia away /to the bridegroom and Ann acted just like a joyful, caring mother.
 
Later, in the reception, we learned [that Julia’s biological parents were present, too].
 
They sat quietly (drinking) and (smoking //while Steve and Ann were busy tending guests).
 
It was obvious [that Steve and Ann showed more cheerful spirit than Julia’s biological parents did.
 
When people [are comfortable //with the kind of life //(they are enjoying)] and [are not doing any harm /to anyone], aren’t we sticking our nose //into their privacy /by assuming [what kind of “ normal” life (they should have)]. (2012.2.23更新)
 
&&主結構是 aren’t we sticking

副詞子句>When people [are comfortable //with the kind of life //(they are enjoying)] and [are not doing any harm /to anyone],
 
主要子句> aren’t we sticking our nose //into their privacy /by assuming

[what kind of “ normal” life (they should have)].

Chapter 3

 A Lesson on Privacy

Mr. Chen and Miss Wei―two Chinese students studying /in America―are invited /to attend a wedding ceremony /for an American couple's daughter. Since they all are /in a tight financial situation, they plan /to buy a gift /for the bride together.

So, they meet and have a little discussion about.

The couple’s names are (Steve) and (Ann), and their daughter’s name is Julia. Neither Steve nor Ann is Julia’s true parent.

Julia is Steve’s first wife’s daughter /from her first marriage. Julia [ came /to Steve’s home //when her mother married Steve], but [stayed /with Steve //when her mother broke up /with Steve].

Chen: Since we are the guests /of (Steve) and (Ann), I ‘d suggest [we buy a gift /for the bride together].

Wei: Indeed. Do you know [that almost all wedding gifts are /for the brides]?

I believe [that’s why Americans have bridal showers and not showers /for the bridegroom].

Chen :I see. I guess[ I have made the right suggestion /for the wrong reason].

So, what kind of gift /would you suggest?

Wei: Do you have any idea?

Chen: Me? I don’t have a clue /about picking a gift /for the bride.

Whatever you say is O.K. with me.

Wei: O.K. But first we need /to decide /on the budget.

(What kind /of price range) are (we talking about)?

Chen: How about /around 60 US dollars?

Wei: O.K.

Chen: I know [this is much higher than (what we generally would do)].

But considering the way Steve and Ann have treated us, I think [we should give Julia a really good gift].

Wei: Yeah, especially considering the embarrassment (your big mouth caused).

Chen: How could I know? I have never heard /of anything like this. Had you?

Wei: No. Actually I also assumed [that they are Julia’s biological parents //when I heard them /talking about “ our daughter”].

Chen: This really opened my eyes. When we hear people //talking about parents and children //we immediately assume [they are talking about biological parents and children].

Wei: It seems [that our idea /of (parents) or (children) is closely associated /with bloodline].

Theirs is a pretty special case.

Chen: Yeah. Who could have imagined [that (Steve) and (Ann) love Julia /so much //they simply take her /as their “ daughter”, //despite the fact [that Julia is not biologically /(related /to any one /of them) whatsoever].

Wei: True! Generally only the biological or legal parents are called: Dad or Mom. At least //that’s [what I thought].

Chen: Talking about a special case. In our culture //when a divorced person marries again, //(his)or ( her new other  half)generally do not call the person’s child //from previous marriage: (my son) or (my daughter).

And the child rarely calls the new (husband) or (wife): (my dad) or (my mom).

Wei: Just look at the way (Steve takes care of Julia),/ no one would ever doubt //if she is not his biological daughter.

Chen: neither would anyone doubt the relationship //between (Ann) and (Julia) /if you listen /to the way (Ann chats /with Julia).

Wei: Yeah. On appearance, they do look /like a perfectly happy family. I wish [I would have a family /like this one].

Chen: You mean [you also are going /to marry someone (who already has children /from his previous marriage)]?

Wei: No, I didn’t mean that part.

Chen: Frankly speaking, I seriously doubt /if I could ever have this kind /of love/ if my future wife also has children /from her previous marriage. Could you?

Wei: I…I really don’t know. This is a tough one. I have never expected this kind /of marriage, /to begin with.

Chen: Me too. We were all raised /to expect a very typical marriage. In this sense, our idea /of parental love is strictly limited /to our own biological children.

Wei: Isn’t this [what we call: a normal family]? Then, what does (Steve) and (Ann’s family) make? Tell me, if you were /in Steve’s shoes, will you treat Julia/ as your very own?

Chen: It will be very hard, to be frank. It will be even harder /after her mother and I were separated. For what?

Wei: Yeah, I know [what you meant]. Isn’t that even more amazing?

Chen : You can say that again.

What would you do /if you were in my shoes?

What does Steve and Ann’s family make?

Wei: Fortunately they did not take your questions too personally. And Ann was kind enough /to explain /to us their wonderful story.
 
Chen: Why didn’t you do something t/o bail me out?

Wei: me? I was startled too. Before I was able /to think /of anything /to say //you were at it again.

Chen: Me and my big mouth.

Wei: At least we learned a valuable lesson /about love and privacy.

Chen: Tell me about it.
 
Wei: So now //I guess [you will know (what to do /in the wedding reception)].

Chen: Yeah, yeah. I will put a zipper /on my mouth.